Riding Between Good Snow and Bad

Snow began falling this morning and quickly began covering the road.  No snowflakes in the beginning, just small round pellets.  Dry snow on dry pavement.  This is the stuff that looks bad but does little to impede traction.  There's a small window of time before flakes fall and things get more slippery.  I don't understand the physics but I've had enough experience to know the effect.

With the road in this condition the traction is surprisingly good.  You won't slip and fall walking on this road and it's unlikely that the Vespa will go down either.  At least not without a lot of help from bad choices.

I had nowhere to be or go, just wanted to be out in the world for a bit and take in the first real snowstorm of the season.  Wandering down a gravel road offered a few lessons.  As gritty as the surface looked the fresh snow covered a lot of smooth, hard ice.  No way of knowing lest a rider gets off the scooter and pushes their boot around.  Not a problem when engaged in frequent stops for photos.

Roads into Boalsburg were completely snow covered and had become slippery.  Braking, motion and movement had to be carefully considered.  The Heidenau snow tires make a difference.

No one was at Ken's Moto Hang Lounge -- home of the Piston and Pints events.  In fact, I didn't see another scooter or motorcycle the entire time I was out.

I have a good idea of my limits -- skills and experience.  With the snow continuing to fall I decided to head towards home with a short stop at the Pump Station for breakfast.  The trip home from there is short though uphill.

The First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket has little protection from moisture and performs more like a dish cloth than raingear.  I need to apply a coat of Nik Wax or something soon.  Walk inside someplace warm forgetting to brush off the snow first and things get wet fast.

Riding up the hill went fine though a few times the rear wheel broke free.  Seems as if the car that made these tracks had a similar issue.

The winter tires definitely help.  Aggressive tread, soft rubber, embedded micro-crystalline silica all work together to increase traction.  Not magic but a little edge.

Snow isn't a rider's friend.  In almost every case a reason to not ride.  Same with me.  But some are happy with the snow.

Junior loves the snow and after the Vespa was put away he needed an adventure of his own.  An hour of running around at the park and we were both ready for a bowl of food and a warm house.

Still snowing outside and I doubt I'll be riding anymore today.  Junior, Kim and I will cozy up and let the world disappear under a blanket of white.

Vespa on a Cold Night

It's been cold and getting colder.  By morning the temperature will be in the single digits.  Not the best news for riding a Vespa but still within the range of riding if the snow holds off.  The past couple days the scooter has sat in the garage due to ice one day and the need to haul some things in the van the next.  Braving the elements was focused on walking the dog.  Photographing this tree reminded me to think about a Christmas tree for home.

This evening I had a few errands to run and decided to exercise the scooter.  The roads were dry though with the thermometer descending below 20 degrees it was cold and the chance of ice is ever present.  The desire to ride is strong.  Why else would anyone venture out into this?

Christmas isn't far off now though I've not really caught the spirit.  Riding didn't jumpstart it either.
My decision to not use the electric gloves was a poor one and the resultant misery clouded any jolly thoughts.

Still, it was good to get out into the world on the Vespa.

Riding Under a Clear Winter Sky

One of the treats of riding in the winter is the air is so sharp, crisp and clear that you can almost feel your spirit soar.  At least that's how I experience it.  Today, from the right vantage point,  you can see for forty miles.  With the sun shining and the air still the cold felt far away.

A stop (again for the thousandth time) at Mount Nittany to make a photograph.  The image is burned in my brain but I still make pictures.  Not sure why...

The roads were mostly dry but you can't ride in the sticks without paying close attention to possible ice.  It seems to grow unexpectedly -- snow from a branch or a car roof, a splash of water or coffee from an unthinking motorist.  As the sun pushed towards the horizon I made my way towards home from a few afternoon errands.

There is a weird, strange thrill in riding in the cold that's hard to describe.  Part visual, part physical, part spiritual.  The ride is important, an anthem to living, a meditation on feeling blood and breath course through the body.  The cold sharpens the experience.

Or so it seems.

Time passes quickly on the road.  The destination approaches rapidly regardless of how many times I stop or detours I take.  The ride, as is life, seems to short, too fast, too soon over.

Under a clear winter sky each breath feels special.  Each moment sparkling with life.

No wonder the Vespa finds its way out onto the road...

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Card

Christmas is coming.  I'm thinking about Christmas cards.  I don't think this is what I'm after for Scooter in the Sticks.  It's tough choosing the perfect card...

Commuting in Fog

Another foggy morning with temperatures near the freezing mark.  Heavy frost on both cars but the driveway and road were damp or dry.  The weather report said 31F but my scooter reading was 35F.  So off I went to work.

The fog was heavier this morning though creating another risk management factor.

A quick stop at the Pennsylvania Military Museum to look around and make a few pictures in the fog.  The collection is growing.  Almost fell on some ice that was well hidden.  Would hate to report a winter injury acquired on foot.

Here's where the accident almost happened.  Parked the scooter on a solid sheet of ice, jumped of for a picture and almost went down.  Sloppy technique.

The world is reduced to a few graphical elements in the fog -- scooter, lines and white space.  That must have something to do with my continued fascination with this weather event.

Cutting through the State College, Pennsylvania neighborhoods on the way to work is a relaxing path.  Little traffic save for the occasional dog walker.  Easy to park in the middle of the road for pictures.

The morning work schedule didn't leave much time for pictures or wandering and that's ok.  I'm happy to have a Vespa commute to start the day.

Vespa Rides and Frozen Fog

The clock radio alarm went off this morning with the weather report warning of possible ice on untreated surfaces due to fog.  As enchanting as fog can be it has to be carefully considered when the thermometer is pointing at 32F.

After walking the dog, paying attention to the road surface, and watching the thermometer rise I made the decision to ride to work.

The roads were mostly dry or damp with no obvious ice.  Keeping the helmet visor clear was an ongoing challenge until the helmet came off at work.

The meandering trip passed through familiar places though always strangely different when shrouded in fog.  I remember wandering through these places on foot with my big wooden view camera exposing sheets of black and white film and watching the world appear in a tray of developer in the darkroom.

I miss those days.

The only ice to be found this morning was off the road and halfway to town the temperature indicator on the Vespa displayed 34F.

Cutting across the east end of campus afforded a nice view of Mount Nittany emerging from a muted sunrise.

Only scooters in the parking lot now though with predictions of the temperature approaching 50 later in the week could see a few motorcycles around.

The biggest downside of commuting this time of year is darkness at the end of the day.  While it wasn't cold, 35F, it can be discouraging to climb aboard the Vespa in the dark on days when it is cold.

This day, I was just glad the warnings of frozen fog did not materialize.  Just another fine Vespa commute to start the day right.

Rest, Relaxation and the End of a Vacation

Unshaven, rested, relaxed.  That's what a week of vacation can do for a person.  My friend Gordon made the photograph, my wife Kim said I looked relaxed, and I know I'm rested and unshaven.  The past week has been an exercise in no plans, no schedule, no goals, no nothing.  I like to think I'm a creature of habit but it's more likely I'm a creature of circumstance.  With no schedule to adhere to I've stayed up 'til dawn, slept past noon, hung out in coffee shops and generally watched the world go by.

And did some Vespa riding.

On days I didn't sleep past noon I was out in the cold with the dog or on the Vespa.  A week of that was all it took to acclimate to the frigid weather.  Now everything from 20F and higher feels comfortable.  Or at least tolerable.

This image was made on Sunday morning at sunrise with Junior in tow.  A dog offers fine examples of how to embrace life at it's simplest level.

Junior pausing briefly for me to make a portrait.  Cold enough outside for his breath to freeze over the hair on his neck.  He just walked through the living room, looked at me, and went upstairs to bed. "He know's the day's over," said Kim.  "No more walks, treats or food.  Nothing left but to go to sleep."

I'm almost in the same place.

It's been a cold week with snow and ice and have helped thicken my riding blood.  This morning Mr. Pumpkin looked particularly annoyed by the 18F temperature reading as I got ready to ride into town to meet my photography compatriots at Saint's Cafe.  Neither the Vespa or I uttered a complaint.

Morning has more attraction for me than any other time of day -- visually and mentally.  I awake quickly with no need for coffee or tea.  Seeing the sun rise and the warm beams of light lick through the trees continues to cause the heart to beat faster.

Allen Street is still asleep at 8:30 on a Sunday morning.  Plenty of parking and no traffic to contend with is fine by me.

Saint's Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania.  The holiday decorations have already gone up.  The place seems personal, friendly and like home.

Simple pleasures during the vacation.  Hot chocolate and a few moments alone with my thoughts.

The earlybirds.  In thirty minutes the place will start to fill up and the hustle and bustle will become more pronounced.  Being away from that pace for just a week makes the change seem dramatic.

During the past week the Vespa and I have ridden the familiar tracks and explored some new ones.  The snow and ice have offered an opportunity to sharpen my skills and mind and the time away from work has allowed my batteries to recharge so I can jump head first into some big projects.

And the rides have given me a chance to catch up with old friends if only for a few moments. But mostly I just laid about in decadent sloth.  So much for plans to organize my digital photos or straightening up the garage.  It was far more satisfying to nap, eat, ride play with the dog, hang out with Kim and anything other than be a responsible adult.

Damn, I guess I need to go upstairs and shave now.

The Holiday Season Begins

Signs of the coming holidays are everywhere.  Commercially, retailers have been turning the wheels on the Christmas shopping season for weeks.  Lighting and decorations have appeared on homes and in towns before Thanksgiving. I'm not immune to the buzz and feel the nostalgic pull of holiday memories from long ago.  This year I want to channel that nostalgia into a project or story.

Just don't know what...

Exploring the extravagant gingerbread towns and other miniature landscapes revealed a scooter making rounds through a snow-covered village.  Perhaps there's a clue there for some sort of project of my own.  I couldn't decide which would be colder -- the pizzas or the rider's face.

Let the season unfold and let's see what happens.

Dreaming

The entire morning was focused on dreaming.  Or more precisely on ideas and paths not considered or taken, of flights of fancy and journeys of partnership that might be explored.  The morning ride had me thinking about what to write in Kim's birthday card.

Another cold morning though sunshine took the edge off making the snow and cold seem little more than a picturesque landscape in which to explore.  A week off work provided ample opportunity to acquire a taste for the cold and grow relaxed with the winter riding ritual. 

Seven days ago the thought of riding through a frozen cornfield would seem a technical stretch. Today it seemed almost normal.  So normal that thoughts of birthdays and dreams came easy.

Before the Vespa, Kim and I explored these mountains on foot with cameras and notebooks.  And before that fall and winter backpacking.  Now, as the Vespa slowly prowls along small paths and roads puzzle over what's next here for Kim and I; how will our lives unfold.

The morning had a postcard quality to it with blue sky draped with white clouds over a mix of snow and ice.  Riding was a joy.

Joy might give the wrong impression.  While the main roads were clear it didn't take long to find snow and ice still lingering on secondary roads.  Caution was in order.  

Coming across a local Christmas tree farm moved thinking from birthday to another season. Christmas will be here in less than a month.  Time is flying.

The ride at times felt like a dream, a scene from Lord of the Rings with familiar places transformed into new ones.

Riding this time of year when the temperature drops below freezing it's important to anticipate problems.  This snow covered road exits from a clear dry road.  On warm days I would enter this road at 40mph.  Knowing it might now be dry I crawled on at 10.  Good thing too because at a higher speed I would have lost control.  In cold weather you can never ride faster than what you can see.

Never.

The message of this picture:  I have little traffic to content with as I navigate the snow and ice.  And there was a lot of ice hidden beneath the light dusting of snow.

A view from Schlow Library towards the Vespa.  By the time I sat down at a table by the window my thoughts were complete and I wrote something to Kim -- a fine morning, a fine ride, and a fine day.

It's been like a dream...

Vespa Ice Racing and the Power of Studded Tires

With a lot of discussion lately focused on snow and riding I took a look around YouTube and found a short film that explores some of the possibilities of riding on snow and ice.  The first look at a winter equipped Vespa takes place at 2:09. Take a look at some of the scooters racing around the track in Germany -- Those aggressive studs make it possible to really lean into a turn!

The video was produced by the S.I.P. Scooter Shop in Germany.